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Police & Fire
Fire Goes Up In Bedroom At Northern Westchester Home Fire Goes Up In Bedroom At Northern Westchester Home
Fire Goes Up In Bedroom At Northern Westchester Home A bedroom fire at a Northern Westchester home prompted a swift response from firefighters. The incident occurred on Monday evening, Jan. 13, around 6:30 p.m. at a home on Barrett Road in Katonah, according to the hamlet's fire department.  Arriving crews soon found a fire in the cockloft, a structural area above the ceiling, and transmitted a 10-75, calling for additional resources from surrounding departments in Northern Westchester. Crews led an aggressive attack, successfully containing the fire to the bedroom area. Firefighters then ensured the entire house was checked for po…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
New Assistant Principal Tapped At Middle School In Westchester New Assistant Principal Tapped At Middle School In Westchester
New Assistant Principal Tapped At Middle School In Westchester A Northern Westchester middle school is starting the new calendar year with a fresh face in leadership.  Phil Hammack has been appointed as the new assistant principal of Briarcliff Middle School, bringing nearly a decade of experience in school administration and a passion for innovative education, school officials announced on Friday, Jan. 10.  Hammack’s career began as a special education teacher in Brooklyn before he moved to Bronx Park Middle School in the Bronx. During his time there, he served in multiple roles, including special education teacher, social studies teacher, a…

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by Ben Crnic
Business
Meta To Cut 5% Of Lowest-Performing Workers, Zuckerberg Braces For 'Intense Year': Reports Meta To Cut 5% Of Lowest-Performing Workers, Zuckerberg Braces For 'Intense Year': Reports
Meta To Cut 5% Of Lowest-Performing Workers, Zuckerberg Braces For 'Intense Year': Reports Meta will cut thousands of employees in the latest move for the controversial company that owns platforms like Facebook and Instagram, according to reports. An internal memo sent to Meta workers said five percent of low-performing employees will be terminated, Bloomberg News reported. The company that also owns WhatsApp and Threads has more than 72,000 employees, according to Meta's most recent quarterly report. A five-percent reduction would mean about 3,600 people could lose their jobs. "I've decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster,…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Trio In Stolen Maserati Lead Police On High-Speed Chase In Westchester: 2 At Large, Police Say Trio In Stolen Maserati Lead Police On High-Speed Chase In Westchester: 2 At Large, Police Say
Trio In Stolen Maserati Lead Police On High-Speed Chase In Westchester: 2 At Large, Police Say A high-speed chase involving a stolen luxury car in Northern Westchester ended with one arrest of a Fairfield County man and an ongoing search for two suspects, police announced.  The incident began around 10:40 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, when troopers tried to stop a 2018 Maserati reported stolen from Connecticut that was speeding on Interstate 684 North in Bedford, New York State Police said on Tuesday, Jan. 14.  The Maserati refused to stop and exited the highway at Exit 6A, heading onto Route 22 in North Salem. Due to the reckless operation of the car, troopers discontinu…

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by Ben Crnic
News
$100K Marijuana Haul, $43K In Cash Found During Westchester Traffic Stop $100K Marijuana Haul, $43K In Cash Found During Westchester Traffic Stop
$100K Marijuana Haul, $43K In Cash Found During Westchester Traffic Stop A routine traffic stop in Westchester led to the discovery of a massive marijuana stash valued at over $100,000, police announced.  The incident happened on the Cross County Parkway in Mount Vernon when a Westchester County Police officer pulled over a Toyota Camry with Illinois plates for a cell phone violation, the department announced on Tuesday, Jan. 14.  As he approached the vehicle, the officer saw multiple bags of different sizes, shapes, and colors scattered throughout the car and suspected possible marijuana trafficking. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle’s …

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by Ben Crnic
Traffic
Traffic, Safety Changes Planned For Sprain Parkway, Nearby Road In Greenburgh Traffic, Safety Changes Planned For Sprain Parkway, Nearby Road In Greenburgh
Traffic, Safety Changes Planned For Sprain Parkway, Nearby Road In Greenburgh A series of major safety improvements aimed at reducing traffic hazards and enhancing infrastructure along the Sprain Brook Parkway and another busy road in Westchester have been announced by town officials.  The initiative includes significant upgrades to Dobbs Ferry Road and the Sprain Brook Parkway in the town of Greenburgh, Town Supervisor Paul Feiner said on Tuesday, Jan. 14.  The planned changes, presented at a Town Board meeting by Planning Commissioner Garrett Duquesne, include: Realigning the southbound Sprain Brook Parkway on-ramp to align with the existing s…

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by Ben Crnic
Business
Capital One Kept $2B In Savings Account Interest From Banking Customers, CFPB Suit Says Capital One Kept $2B In Savings Account Interest From Banking Customers, CFPB Suit Says
Capital One Kept $2B In Savings Account Interest From Banking Customers, Cfpb Suit Says The federal government is suing Captial One, accusing the banking giant of deceiving consumers and withholding more than $2 billion in interest payments on savings accounts. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a lawsuit against Capital One and its parent company, the agency said in a news release on Tuesday, Jan. 14. The CFPB accused Capital One of marketing its "360 Savings" accounts as offering some of the nation's highest interest rates but froze those rates while competitors' rates climbed. Simultaneously, the bank introduced a nearly identical product, "360 …

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by Chris Spiker
Business
No Coffee, No Bathroom: Starbucks Ends Open-Door Policy For Non-Customers No Coffee, No Bathroom: Starbucks Ends Open-Door Policy For Non-Customers
No Coffee, No Bathroom: Starbucks Ends Open-Door Policy For Non-Customers Starbucks is ending its open-door policy, prioritizing access for paying customers and employees. The coffeehouse chain will no longer allow just anyone to hang out in its cafes or use its bathrooms. Starbucks has created a new Coffeehouse Code of Conduct, requiring people to buy something to use the cafe, patio, or restrooms. Starbucks said it hopes the change will improve the overall coffeehouse experience. "We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable in our stores," company spokesperson Sam Jefferies said in a statement to Daily Voice. "Implementing a Coffeehouse Code of Conduct i…

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by Chris Spiker
News
$7M Goes To Public Housing Repairs In Westchester: Here's Where $7M Goes To Public Housing Repairs In Westchester: Here's Where
$7M Goes To Public Housing Repairs In Westchester: Here's Where Westchester is putting millions of dollars into improving public housing units in four municipalities, officials announced.  The funding, provided through the county's Landlord Tenant Assistance Program and announced by Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins on Monday, Jan. 13, will support critical repairs and upgrades to ensure safe and modern living conditions for residents, officials said. The funds will benefit the Greenburgh Housing Authority, New Rochelle Municipal Housing Authority, White Plains Housing Authority, and the Municipal Housing Authority for the City of …

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
Michelle Obama Won't Attend President-Elect Donald Trump's Inauguration Michelle Obama Won't Attend President-Elect Donald Trump's Inauguration
Michelle Obama Won't Attend President-Elect Donald Trump's Inauguration Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20. “Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies,"  said a statement from the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama. "Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration." No explanation was given and Michelle Obama has not commented. Former Presidents Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will attend the inauguration, along with former first ladies Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton, the former Secret…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Drones To Fly Over Town In Hudson Valley: Here's When, Where Drones To Fly Over Town In Hudson Valley: Here's When, Where
Drones To Fly Over Town In Hudson Valley: Here's When, Where Drones will soon be sighted above a Hudson Valley town—these are supposed to be there, though, according to authorities.  Beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 14, the Department of Environmental Protection will be flying drones over the Putnam County town of Southeast, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced.  The drones will fly over the East Branch Dam near Sodom Road and Route 22, the Sheriff's Office said.  This activity will continue throughout the week. More information was not immediately available. 

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by Ben Crnic
News
FDA Proposes Nutrition Labels On Front Of Food Packages To Fight Chronic Disease FDA Proposes Nutrition Labels On Front Of Food Packages To Fight Chronic Disease
FDA Proposes Nutrition Labels On Front Of Food Packages To Fight Chronic Disease The Food and Drug Administration has proposed moving nutrition labels to the front of most packaged foods, aiming to help consumers make healthier choices, officials said. The FDA officially unveiled its proposal requiring front-of-package nutrition labels, the agency said in a news release on Tuesday, Jan. 14. This effort is part of a broader strategy to combat chronic diseases, which affect about 60 percent of Americans and account for $4.5 trillion in annual health care costs. The proposed "nutrition info box" would display saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars content i…

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by Chris Spiker